The Solvang City Council met in closed session on Thursday to discuss ongoing labor negotiations with striking employees and took no reportable action. 

Since Sept. 15, roughly 30 Solvang city workers have been on an indefinite strike after the City Council imposed its final contract offer of a one-year, 4% cost-of-living increase, after five months of failed negotiations with Teamsters Local 986.

Employees went on strike the morning after that council decision. 

Council members met for almost two hours in Thursday’s special meeting, and staff said there was no reportable action taken. According to Teamsters business representative Jeff Lee, the city and the union resumed negotiations shortly after the closed session ended.

An earlier three-year proposal rejected by the union included a 4% cost-of-living increase, along with retroactive back pay to July when their contract ended, followed by a 6% increase in the second and third years.

The city countered with a 6% increase in the first year, followed by a 4% increase in the second and third years, but after that offer was rejected by the union, the city shifted to a strictly 4% increase in the first year.